Amports plans new terminal at Tampa

Friday, July 19, 2013

Terminal operator Amports and the Tampa Port Authority signed a letter of intent to develop a new terminal dedicated to handling imports and exports of automobiles and other rolling stock.
The Florida port noted that Mexico’s large and growing capacity for automotive production has increased demand for efficient and low-cost distribution to the U.S. market, where an estimated one in 10 cars sold in the United States is made in Mexico. Florida will soon surpass New York as the third most populous state in the United States, and the port believes by distributing new cars from the center of the state provides an “optimal supply chain for this growing trade lane.”
"We believe that Tampa is right in the sweet spot for short-sea shipments out of Mexico. We also believe it will become a gateway port for export finished vehicles,” Steven Rand, Amports president and chief executive officer, said in a statement.
“Because of our central location and access to the I-4 corridor, we give our customers the best option to reach the entire Florida market”, Raul Alfonso, port authority chief commercial officer, said.
In addition to imports from Mexico, Amports and the Port of Tampa will serve as a gateway for U.S.-produced vehicles aimed at the Latin America and Caribbean markets.
With nine locations, Amports is one of the largest auto processors in North America, processing more than 1 million vehicles annually. Amports Mexico has three operations consisting of two port facilities located in Altamira and Lazaro Cardenas, an inland rail-head facility located in Toluca.